Mental Stimulation For Success

in·spi·ra·tion
/ˌinspəˈrāSH(ə)n/
noun
the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

Why do we need mental stimulation?

1.) Our brain needs to be stimulated in order to keep working well
Studies have shown that the more we use our brain for a wide variety of tasks which stretch it, the more likely we are to hold on to better brain-functioning, even in old age.

The more we are mentally stimulated, the more dendritic branches we create in our brain to inter-connect our brain cells, to improve functioning of our thinking and our memory. This has been found to be an effective way of delaying onset of cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.

2.) We need mental stimulation to feel happy and fulfilled
Many years ago, our ancestors would have used their brain for a range of highly stimulating activities for basic survival including:

• Keeping senses alert to hear if danger or predators were near. Acute senses would have been useful in hunting too, and in observing the details in nature around them.
• Learning how to interact with members of the tribe in order to work together harmoniously, to find mates, and to bring up their offspring.
• Using their brain to form maps in their heads when traversing the lands.
• Planning and carrying out cunning methods to hunt and capture prey.
• Interpreting environmental clues to enable them to prepare for seasonal changes.
• Building shelter and learning to use survival skills
• Learning how to fend off disease, keep clean and healthy

In short, brain function was key for a lot of different kinds of survival-based needs.

Today, many of us no longer know how to build shelter, or survive out in the wild. It is questionable whether many city-folk could utilize good tracking skills on a hunt. Nevertheless, in our modern world, we stimulate our brains in new ways that weren’t possible for our ancestors.

If you look at dogs, experts will tell you that they require both physical and mental stimulation in order to feel happy and satisfied. Otherwise behavioural problems may arise. The same is true with cats, pet birds… and humans!

Maybe in the years when we evolved to utilize our brain we evolved a mechanism by which we feel happy when we fulfil all these mental tasks in the brain, in order to encourage survival. This isn’t to say that we should all start hunting again, but just that we should utilize similar mental functioning mechanisms needed in hunting in new ways, in order to fulfil that basic “need”, so that we feel happy and fulfilled.

3.) We need mental stimulation to keep boredom at bay
Closely linked to the need to feel happy and fulfilled is the need to keep boredom away. Mental stimulation is a good antidote to boredom.

4.) Mental stimulation helps us progress and achieve
It may be that the more you use your brain, the more likely you are to enhance brain functioning, to enhance your chances of success, achievement and progress. Mental stimulation is partly behind the progress of the human race.

You are the captain of your ship and when you safeguard your environment and what you allow to input through your eyes and ears will have a dramatic impact on your mental stimulation and success.

Blessings - Coach Milton
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